Will Haruna Iddrisu bow to pressure and run for presidency in 2020?

Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu appears to be under some pressure from some persons within the party to run as flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the 2020 general elections or make his stance of who he will support public.

Whereas many including former ministers and diplomats are still yearning a return of former President John Dramani Mahama they indicate remains the best bet for the party, there are those who disagree and think having served almost 6 years as president is enough and therefore new energy should be injected.

There is a growing pressure from within according to close sources to Haruna Iddrisu for him to partner some persons and seek the mandate of the party as its flagbearer but political pundits want the young but experienced politician to tread cautiously.

Recently the Editor and Chief of the New Crusading Guide advised the young politician not to put his name forward for the flagbearer position saying “Haruna Iddrisu is very young, very nice guy. I’m not sure whether he’s ready to put himself in it. If I were to advise him anyway, I’d tell him to bid his time. Well, his name has popped up but if I were him, I’d wait awhile”.

His constituents in Tamale South Constituency have jumped into the fray and want their lawmaker to accept the proposition to run as flagbearer of the party a call the immediate past Minister for Employment and Labour Relations is yet to comment on.

Lawyer Haruna Iddrisu as known in the constituency close sources reveal is torn between supporting the return of President John Dramani Mahama or heeding to calls to go for the ultimate himself.

Minority Chief Whip, Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka who has no qualms with Haruna Iddrisu contesting for the presidency said “Haruna is a qualified person, why not, we were in school together, the right time will tell who should lead us” when asked if he has heard of his name as one of the front runners for the party’s flagbearer slot.

Meanwhile several names including Former Ministers of Communications, Dr Edward Omane Boamah; Roads and Highways; Inusah Fuseini; Education, Prof Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang; Foreign Affairs, Hannah Serwah Tetteh; Trade and Industry; Dr Ekow Spio Gabrah; Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, former Minister of State and Mahama Ayariga, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovations, are all reported interested in leading the NDC into the 2020 election.

Others reported to be interested in leading the party after Mr Mahama’s reign include former Ministers of Youth and Sports, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuije; Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur; former Brong Ahafo Minister, Eric Opoku; former Central Regional Minister; Kwaku Rickett Hagan; former Minister of State at the presidency, Rashid Pelpuo; and former majority leader and now 2nd deputy Speaker of Parliament; Alban Kingsford Sumane Bagbin.

The likes of immediate past Senior Policy Adviser and Head of Presidential Delivery Unit, Dr Valerie Sawyer; former MP for La Dadekotopon, Nii Amasah Namoale; former Chief Executives of NHIA, Sylvester Mensah; COCOBOD’s Dr Stephen Opuni; Eco Medical Village’s, Dzifa Aku Ativor; former KMA boss, Kojo Bonsu; 1st vice Chairman of NDC, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo; former Minister of Health, Alex Segbefia; MP for Klottey Korle; Dr Zanetor Rawlings; Anlo MP; Clement Kofi Humado and former vice President, Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur were also reported to be interested in the post.